Every country has its own holidays, but Russia has always been different. Our country is unique, where traditions from the East and West successfully coexist. Russian history goes back to the distant past, to the times of pagan faith. From a small tribe in central Europe, Russia has grown into the largest country in the world with so many regions that have their own customs and holidays.
In Russia there are official and unofficial, professional and private, old and new holidays. They came from the past, others were revived or renamed. However, not everyone is important for the Russian people. Professional ones have no meaning for people in general, while others have a great emotional load. Knowing the customs and traditions of any country is the key to understanding its people, and Russia is no exception.
International Children's Day
This international holiday, which was originally founded in France, focuses on children's rights. It is widespread in Russia mainly with events held in parks that focus on education and play.
Russia Day
This holiday commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Sovereignty Russian Federation 1991, which proclaimed the “independence” of Russia from the USSR. However, many Russians still do not know when this was done. Instead, they view the country as a successor state to the USSR and a product of other states that left Russia. According to this view, the holiday is usually celebrated simply as an expression of patriotism, similar to Victory Day, with parades, demonstrations, and fireworks set off at 10 p.m.
June 5, 2019 – Eid al-Fitr, in several regions of Russia this day is an official day off
In Russia, like in any other country, there are purely official holidays. These holidays aren't fun and usually don't mean anything to people, but they have one big advantage: they're weekends. These are Russian Independence Day, June 12, National Agreement and Reconciliation Day (November 7, it was October Revolution Day) and Constitution Day (December 12). Although in most cases Russians do not care about these dates, they are very happy to go to their dachas, meet with friends or simply relax at home.
Keep in mind that the Russian government usually switches holidays around official holiday so that people get 3 days off in a row. This is a very common practice. So if May 1st falls on a Tuesday, they will declare the Saturday immediately before May 1st to be a business day and the following Monday a holiday. In this case, people will get Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The government announces the change weeks in advance.
The May holidays are one of the most anticipated of the year, because they give the opportunity to take a little break from the routine of everyday work, go out into nature with family or friends and just have fun while enjoying the long weekend.
Let's figure out what the format of the May holidays will be in 2019, how many days we rest on May 9 and whether it is possible to plan long-distance travel for this period.
Production calendar for May
According to the draft production calendar for 2019, in May we expect:
- 18 working days;
- 13 days off, including 2 holidays (May 1 and 9);
- 1 shortened working day (May 8).
Thus, the first and second weeks of the month will be incomplete, on which two fall at once. public holidays:
Important! The mentioned days will be days off for people working on a 5-day schedule with two fixed days off (Saturday and Sunday).
Transfers of working days
This year May holidays The location was not very good, since the weekend turned out to be broken. But don’t worry - the Government made sure that we had a good rest in 2019 and planned two postponements of days off:
- weekends from January 5th and 6th (Saturday and Sunday) will be moved to May 2nd and 3rd;
- On May 10 we will have a day off for February 23, which this year falls on a Saturday.
Thus, Russians will receive an excellent gift for May - 5 days off in a row (from May 1 to 5), and after that another 4 days off (from 9 to 12). This will allow you not only to have a good walk and recover after a stormy holiday, but also to plan long trips or family vacations.
Shortened working days
If the issue of postponements is still being discussed, then the reduction of working days on the calendar immediately before holidays is a decided fact, which means that on April 30 and May 8 you will have to work exactly 1 hour less.
Great Victory Day
In 2019 we will celebrate the 74th anniversary of the Great Victory!
In many countries formed after the collapse of the USSR, Victory Day is a public holiday. Although a number of countries have come up with their own name for it, the essence of May 9 has remained unchanged. On this day, they traditionally remember the events of the Great Patriotic War, congratulate veterans and honor the memory of soldiers who gave their lives in the name of the Great Victory.
Not only in Russia and many post-Soviet countries they celebrate May 9 - in 2019 this day of the week will also be a day off for residents European countries. As an official public holiday, Victory Day is celebrated on the same day as the Russian Federation in Israel. In Western European countries, Europe Day is celebrated on this day. Residents of Great Britain and France celebrate “Liberation Day” on May 8th.
In Germany, the main holiday “Day of Liberation from Nazism” is also celebrated on May 8, but on the 9th there are numerous events in which the Russian-speaking population of the country takes part. But these days are not officially declared holidays.
Events in Russia
The main event of Victory Day remains a large-scale parade on Red Square, which residents of all regions of Russia and other countries will be able to see in live on the main TV channels of the Russian Federation or via YouTube.
Not many people will be able to see the equipment and military crews passing through Red Square “live”, because only people with special invitations can attend the parade. Everyone else will be stopped by security at specially organized checkpoints. Usually the number of invitees does not exceed 2000 people. These include:
- veterans;
- leaders of other countries;
- members of the Government;
- journalists;
- employees of organizations that have received official permission.
But don’t be upset if you don’t get to visit the main front of the country, because on this day there will be many other events in the capital that anyone can attend:
- procession "Immortal Regiment";
- thematic productions and reconstructions;
- numerous exhibitions dedicated to the Great Victory;
- concerts of your favorite performers;
- festive fireworks.
And in anticipation of the 74th anniversary of the Great Victory, we offer you to see what the holiday was like in the capital in 2018:
What will the year of the yellow earth boar bring us? How will we relax next year 2019?
The 19th year of the third millennium will begin on Tuesday and will bring us as many as 10 days off in new year holidays, as well as as many as nine in May. A good year awaits us, isn’t it? From us you can download a high-resolution calendar for 2019 with marked weekends.
In 2019, two significant holidays fell on weekends. They will be moved to comply with regulations. Labor Code(Labor Code, Art. 110), according to which between two working weeks there must be at least 42 hours of continuous absence from work. The Ministry of Labor has already made adjustments to 2019, unwittingly pleasing and pampering us. In connection with this, a project was developed and a corresponding resolution was issued at the government level - on postponing the days off for the coming year of the yellow wild boar.
Such transfer of days off is carried out in advance. This is necessary for the reasonable preparation of a work schedule, as well as for providing and complying with the conditions for the necessary leisure and vacation planning for Russian residents, not only during the New Year period, but also in the spring and summer.
How the holidays were postponed in 2019
Calendar of weekends and holidays for 2019New Year's holidays, as a rule, last long enough to coincide with some days off. It is for this reason that they are most often transferred. And we don't mind. January 5 and 6, 2019 are Saturday and Sunday respectively. Therefore, already being in the status of holiday weekends, according to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, they switch to the May holidays. Namely on the 2nd and 3rd, which is incredibly convenient and in total gives as many as five days of rest in a row, because these are Thursday and Friday. In addition, it was extremely lucky to be on Saturday. Thanks to this, May 10, Friday, will become a non-working day, and in total there will be four days off.
As a result of such castlings, in the first two weeks of May you will have to work only about three days.
The festive New Year holidays themselves will allow you to forget about work for 10 whole days - from December 30, 2018 to January 8, 2019.
In addition, 2019, the year of the yellow wild boar, will bring a couple more three-day weekends. In honor of the International Women's Day- from March 8 to 10 and National Unity Day - from November 2 to 4, and between them was Russia Day - June 12, which will allow you to relax right in the middle of the work week (Wednesday).
Brief summary of weekends in 2019
In total, 2019 will bring 26 non-working days, combined with solemn state dates. Take a look at a short summary of the 2019 weekend:
- from December 30, 2018 to January 8, 2019;
- February 23 and 24;
- from the eighth to the tenth of March;
- from the first to the fifth of May;
- from May 9 to 12;
- the twelfth of June;
- from the second to the fourth of November.
How much time we will be given to rest during the New Year holidays in 2020 has not yet been announced, but we will keep you posted!
In 2019, Russians will rest and work according to the official calendar, which is approved by the Government. See the calendar taking into account postponed holidays in January, February, May, June and November.
How to relax for the New Year 2019
December 29 is a working Saturday. And already at 30 the New Year holidays will begin, which will last 10 days until January 8, 2019 inclusive.How we relax on February 23, 2019
February 23, 2019 falls on a Saturday. The authorities decided to postpone the day off, which coincided with “men’s” day, to May 10.How we relax on March 8, 2019
March 8 is Friday, there were no postponements, from March 8 to 10 there are three non-working days.How to relax during the May holidays 2019
The weekend of January 5th and 6th, which coincided with the holidays, was moved to May 2nd and 3rd. So in May there will be mini-vacations for five days in a row - from Wednesday, May 1 to Sunday, May 5, inclusive.At the same time, the first “May” and the second will only have to work for three days. And the second May holiday will last four days - from May 9 to May 12.
How to relax on Russia Day 2019
Russia Day on June 12 will be a single day off in the middle of the week (Wednesday).How to relax on National Unity Day 2019
November 4th fell on a Monday, so the holiday in November will last three days in a row - from November 2nd to November 4th.Working Saturdays and shortened days in 2019
There will be no working Saturdays in the new year, and six days will be shortened - in February, March, April, May, June and December. Before the holidays, employees will work an hour less. If the work lasts the usual eight hours on these days, overtime will need to be paid at one and a half times the rate (Article 152 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation).There will be two long weekends in Russia in May 2019. On the first May holidays we rest for 5 days: from May 1 to May 5. On the second May holidays we rest for 4 days: from May 9 to May 12.
- weekends and holidays
- pre-holiday days
(with a reduced working day of 1 hour)
| Working time standards |
How we work and relax in May 2019
In May 2019, there are 18 working days and 13 weekends and holidays in Russia.
Work days:
| Mon | W | Wed | Mon | W | Wed | Thu | Fri | Mon | W | Wed | Thu | Fri | Mon | W | Wed | Thu | Fri | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 7 | 8 | ... | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | ... | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | ... | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
May 8 is a pre-holiday working day with reduced working hours by one hour (Article 95 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation).
Weekends and holidays:
| Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Sat | Sun | Sat | Sun | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ... | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | ... | 18 | 19 | ... | 25 | 26 |
Long weekend in May
In May 2019, Russia celebrates two public holidays: May 1 - Spring and Labor Day and May 9 - Victory Day. These are non-working holidays. We also have three additional rescheduled days off. This makes it possible to have two long weekends in May.
How to relax on May 1st
How we relax on May 9
Public holidays in May
In May 2019, Russia celebrates 2 public holidays: Spring and Labor Day and Victory Day. These are official days off (Article 112 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation).
May 1, Wed. - Labour Day. Dedicated to all workers. People call this day May Day. On this holiday, it is customary to organize May Days: picnics, trips out of town, fishing, to the country.
May 9, Thu. - Victory Day. Dedicated to the victory of the Soviet army over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. In 2019, Russia celebrates the 74th anniversary of the victory over fascism.
May 1, 2019 - day off or work
Where do the extra days off in May come from?
According to the Decree of the Russian Federation dated October 1, 2018 “On the transfer of days off in 2019”, the Government of Russia approved the transfer of days off from May 2019 to New Year holidays and Defender of the Fatherland Day:
Working time standards
According to production calendar Russia, in May 2019, there were 18 workers in the country (including 1 laid-off worker) and 13 weekends and holidays.
Standard working hours:
- with a 40-hour work week – 143 hours (18 x 8 - 1, where 18 is the number of working days, 8 is the duration of the work shift, 1 is the number of shortened working days);
- at 36 hours – 128.6 hours (18 x 7.2 - 1);
- at 24-hour – 85.4 hours (18 x 4.8 - 1).
Where to go for the May holidays
Travel lovers can go on an excursion to another city in Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, or go on a bus tour along the Golden Ring of Russia.
In Moscow, you can book a sightseeing bus tour of the city, visit historical museums, a zoo, the Exhibition of National Economic Achievements (VDNKh), a circus, a planetarium, a botanical garden, and go up to the Moscow City observation deck. On May 9, it will be interesting to watch the Victory Parade on Red Square, the Immortal Regiment procession, and festive fireworks.
In St. Petersburg, you can stroll along Nevsky Prospect, Vasilyevsky Island, admire St. Isaac's Cathedral, visit the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, Peterhof, Tsarskoe Selo, and go on the night excursion “Night of Drawbridges.” On May 9 it will be interesting to watch the military parade on Palace Square, festive concert and fireworks.
In Sochi you can visit the Arboretum Park, the Dolphinarium and the Oceanarium in the Riviera Park. You can go on a boat trip, ride ATVs and horses in the foothills of Sochi. The sea water is still cool at the beginning of May. However, the sun is already hot, and daredevils can swim in the sea.
Those wishing to spend the May holidays abroad can go to Turkey, Georgia, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands.
In Turkey, the beach season opens in May. Swimming in the sea and boat trips can be combined with visiting architectural monuments, fortresses and museums, and shopping. You can also go on an excursion to the thermal springs of Pamukkale.
In the Czech Republic, you can go on a tour of Prague: visit Prague Castle - the fortress, the residence of the President of the country, the Old Town, Charles Bridge, admire the Prague Clock on Old Town Square, take a boat ride along the Vltava, see castles in the vicinity of the city. The holiday season in Karlovy Vary opens on the May holidays. Tourists have the opportunity to visit a food festival, craft fairs, and holiday concerts.
In the Netherlands, it will be interesting to visit the Tulip Mania festival in the Keukenhof flower park in the city of Liss. You can also take a walk around Amsterdam and The Hague. In Amsterdam, you can take an evening boat tour along the city's canals, visit the Nemo science museum, the Rijksmuseum art museum, the Royal Palace, and the Red Light District. In The Hague you can visit the Binnenhof Castle, the Gevangepoort Torture Museum, and the Madurodam amusement park.
How to celebrate, where to go for the May holidays
The May holidays are a time to relax in nature. At this time of year, the weather is warm outside, flowers and trees are blooming. Fans of active recreation can go with their family or friends to a river, to the forest or to the country. There you can cook food on the fire, play games, sing songs with a guitar.
Those who want to relax in the city can arrange a cultural and entertainment program: go to a cinema or theater, visit museums or exhibitions, or organize shopping. You can take a walk in the park, sit in a cafe.
Convenient calendar with week numbers and printable options
State, professional and national holidays
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